Mossford Green Primary School Nursery

Play-led learning, stories and early number work give Mossford Green’s nursery its character. Children aged 3 to 4 belong to the school’s Early Years unit, with 36 nursery places across a mixture of full-time and part-time attendance and 26 places per session. This is a school-attached start to education, with a nursery teacher leading the provision.

At the Ofsted inspection on 20 and 21 June 2023, early years provision received an Outstanding judgement. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery. The nursery-specific example is useful: children were successfully putting numbers in order, giving parents a concrete picture of early mathematical learning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework, with play as the starting point. Here, preparation for later learning includes helping children develop physically, build relationships and understand their emotions. The emphasis reaches beyond early reading and number: learning to participate alongside other children is part of the educational purpose too.

Stories, songs and rhymes support language development. In June 2023, children’s speaking and listening developed effectively across early years, while staff helped them make progress across the areas of learning. Number ordering in the nursery illustrates how a specific skill sits within that broader development. For parents, this means play has an educational direction, with language and mathematics woven into children’s learning.

A qualified teacher and Nursery Education Officer lead the nursery provision. For children needing additional help, the June 2023 early years findings give a practical example of support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND): staff helped children handle emotions and join in play with other children. Participation matters alongside learning.

Tapestry online learning journals let parents see selected activities involving their child and classmates. That gives families something concrete to discuss together, rather than relying solely on a child’s account of the session.

Staff workload. The June 2023 inspection also raised a school-wide concern: curriculum changes had added to some staff’s workload, and leaders needed to consider staff well-being when planning changes. This was a wider leadership issue, rather than a nursery-specific criticism.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through eAdmissions, using the borough where they live and meeting the relevant annual deadline. Redbridge Council handles Reception admissions for Mossford Green; the nursery application is managed by the school. Treat these as two distinct decisions when planning your child’s next stage.

Children can begin in the term after turning 3. Funded part-time attendance is 15 hours a week, with a choice of morning sessions from 8.45am to 11.45am or afternoon sessions from 12.45pm to 3.45pm. Full-time funded places cover 30 hours weekly and are currently restricted to parents eligible with a 30 hours code. Eligibility needs checking in the term before the child is due to start.

Apply using the Nursery Application Form, or collect a paper copy from the school office. Prospective families can also arrange a school visit through the office, subject to government and local authority guidance. Check current charges with the school before committing to a place.